Swing



Nov. 3, 1936. M. E. DENNEY SWING Filed May 8, 1934 2 SheetsSheet l Nov. 3, 1936. v M, E, DE E 2,059,177

swme

Filed May 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W mmwm M if 6M5 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES SWING Marshall E. Denney, Tampa, Fla., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Westlake A. Dyer and one-half to T. Emmett Anderson, both of Tampa, Fla.

Application May 8, 1934, Serial No. 724,599

5 Claims.

My invention relates to swings, and has particular reference to a swing construction of the single-seated type adapted for suspension by rope or chains from an overhead beam, joist or other support, and comprising, generally, a vertically disposed I-shaped front portion and a horizontally disposed seat portion pivotally connected to said front portion.

Swings of this general character are not new in the art, it having been previously proposed to provide a wooden construction comprising an upright member having upper and lower cross bars adapted, respectively, for engagement by the hands and feet of the operator and to associate with said upright a horizontally-extending seat portion having its inner end pivotally connected to the upright intermediate the ends thereof. chains extend upwardly from the lower cross arm and through the upper cross arm, and a third rope or chain extends upwardly from the outer or free end of the horizontal seat portion,

the three ropes or chains being attached to suitable eyes, hooks or other fastenings mounted on or in an overhead beam, joist or other support. In swings of this type, the operator, generally a child, straddles the seat with his hands grasping the upper crossbar and his feet resting on the lower cross bar, and by pushing with his legs and pulling with his arms in one direction and then pushing with his arms in the opposite direction, with his legs relaxed, thus utilizing a combined arm and leg movement, the

suspended swing is caused to traverse an arc of acter including a relatively strong, metallic upr substantial length. However, the swing constructions of this general type as proposed and made available by the prior art, have not been entirely satisfactory, due to the relatively frail construction employed and the inability of the same to withstand the strains and stresses incident to the use thereof.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide a swing of the above mentioned charright member having end extensions adapted to encircle and retain the upper and lower cross bars, and to so form an intermediate portion of the metallic upright that the horizontally-extending seat portion may be readily and securely pivotally attached thereto.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pair of relatively strong, metallic cross bars adapted for attachment to the upper and lower ends of the upright member to constitute, respectively, the hand and foot engaging portions of the swing, these cross bars being preferably formed of tubular metal stock, and having end closures retained in position by means of bushings through which the supporting chains or ropes are adapted to pass.

In such swings, a pair of ropes or It is a further object of my invention to provide a relatively strong, metallic seat for swings of this-general type, and to reinforce this seat in such a manner that it will be sufficiently strong and rigid to withstand the stresses and strains to which it is subjected in use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel means for pivotally connecting the seat to the upright member, and including a pivot pin adapted to be passed through portions of the upright and through the forward end of the seat, portions of the upright member being readily bendable after the insertion of the pivot pin to retain the same against axial displacement.

' It is a still further objectof my invention to provide a swing of the above mentioned character which may be conveniently packed and shipped in knock-down condition and readily assembled for use without difficulty and without the aid of special tools or other equipment.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my swing showing a child thereon pushing with his feet against the lower cross bar and pulling with his arms against the upper cross bar to impart an oscillatory or swinging movement to the swing,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the child pushing with his arms against the upper cross bar, with his legs relaxed,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved swing,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the swing,

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the pivot pin entering the openings in the upright member and forward end of the seat,

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the improved seat construction,

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a transverse line I0-iil of Fig. 8,

Fig. 11 is an elevation of that face of the upright member to which the seat is pivotally connected, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the preferred construction of the end portions of the cross bars, this view being taken on the line I2--ili of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, the numerai I represents, generally, the upright memsectional view on the her of my improved swing, this upright preferably being formed from sheet metal stamped and cut to provide side flanges 2 which terminate in inturned flanges 3, these flanges serving to materially strengthen the upright and prevent the same from twisting or bending. The upper and lower ends 4 and 5 respectively, of the upright I, are devoid of flanges and extend above and below the flanged portion of the upright, the end extension 4 being bent over and around the upper cross bar 6 and the end extension 5 being bent over and around the lower cross bar I. The extensions 4 and 5, after passing over and around the respective cross bars 6 and I, pass inwardly between the flanges 2 and 3 and are welded or otherwise secured to the front face of the body portion of the upright. A depression 8 is formed intermediate the ends of the upright I, and extends inwardly from the rear face of the said upright, the vertical walls defining this depression being provided with transverse, alined openings 9 adapted to receive a pivot pin In. One of the side flanges 2 of the upright I is provided with an opening II in alinernent with the openings 9 in the side walls defining the depression 8, this opening II being formed by cutting through a portion of the flange and bending the metal inwardly as shown in Fig. 7, in which figure the metal bent out of the opening II is designated by the reference numeral I2.

The cross arms 6 and I are made from suitable tubular metal stock and are of a suflicient length to accommodate the hands and feet of the child. As above stated, the end extensions 4 and 5 are bent over and around themid-portion of the-cross bars, as adequately shown in the accompanying drawings, and in order to prevent the cross bars from moving axially and/or from rotating within the end extensions 4 and 5, a spot weld I3 is applied which effectively prevents relative movement between the upright I and cross bars 6 and I. The ends of the cross bars may be left open, but in the preferred embodiment of my invention, thimbles or plugs I4 are inserted into each end of the cross bars and are retained therein by means of suitable hollow or tubular bushings I5, arranged vertically, and having their upper and lower ends flanged to retain them in position.

The horizontally extending seat of my improved swing comprises a seat portion I6 reduced at its forward end to form a relatively narrow tongue portion II. This seat is preferably constructed from sheet metal stamped to shape and having depending side flanges I6, terminating in inturned flanges I9, these flanges serving to materially strengthen the seat and to prevent the same from twisting or bending. To further insure the strength and rigidity of the seat, an elongated, U-shaped channel member 20 is provided, which member extends for the entire length of the seat along the underside thereof. That portion of the channel member 20 which underlies the seat portion I6 is provided with laterally extending flanges 2I which may be spot-welded to the underside of said seat portion, one end of the channel member and its overlying seat portion being provided with alined openings to receive a hollow or tubular bushing 22, having its upper-and lower ends flanged to retain the said bushing in place, it being understood that a rope or chain extends through this bushing to support the seat from an overhead beam or the like. The forward end of the channel member 20, i. e., that portion which underlies the tongue portion I! of the seat, is

provided with a depending flange 23. The side flanges I8, depending flanges 23 and the side walls of the channel member 20, are provided with transverse alined openings at the forward ends thereof, the pivot pin I0 passing through these alined openings when theseat is pivotally connected to the upright I.

Ropes or chains 24 and 25 are threaded through the alined bushings I5 at the right and left ends, respectively, of the cross bars 6 and I and extend upwardly to an overhead beam, joist or other support to which they are attached by spaced eyes, hooks or other forms of fastening means, the lower ends of these ropes or chains being knotted to prevent the same from pulling through the lowermost bushing and to support the swing in spaced relation from the ground or floor. A third rope or chain 26 is threaded through the hollow bushing 22 at the rear end of the seat and extends upwardly to the overhead beam, joist, or other support to which it is attached by means of an eye, hook or other form of fastening means, the lower end of this rope or chain being knotted to prevent the same from pulling through the bushing and to support the seat in a horizontal w position substantially at right angles to the upright member I.

One of the features and advantages of my improved swing construction above described, is

that the swing may be packed and shipped with out the seat portion and upright separated, and these parts readily assembled by the purchaser without the aid of special tools. When it is desired to assembled the swing, the forward end of the seat is placed in alinement with the openings 9 and I I in the walls defining the depression and in one side flange 2, respectively, and the pivot pin inserted throughthe alined openings until its forward end contacts with the inner surface of the opposite side flange 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The metal portion I2 which had been previously forced inwardly as shown in Fig. 'I is then bent back into the opening II as clearly shown in Fig. 6 and, hence, the pivot pin III is retained in position between the side flanges 2 and the seat permanently and pivotally connected to the, upright. When thus assembled the supporting ropes or chains 24 and 25 are threaded through the bushings I5 and attached to the fastening means in or on the overhead beam, it being understood that the fastening means are spaced apart a distance substantially the same as the horizontal spacing between the bushings I5 of the cross arms 6 and I, thus maintaining the ropes 24 and 25 in parallel spaced relation.

The upper end of the rope or chain 26 is thensecured to a fastening means in or on the overhead beam, which fastening means is spaced from the fastening means for the other ropes or chains a distance substantially the same as the distance between the upright I and the bushing 22. The lower ends of the ropes or chains 24, 25, and 26 are then knotted to space the lower cross bar I the desired distance from the ground and to maintain the seat in a horizontal position, i. e., a position at right angles to the said upright. The swing is then ready for use. An operator, usually a child, sits upon the seat portion I6 with his legs extending on opposite sides of the tongue portion I'I, his feet resting on the end portions of the lower cross bar I, and his hands grasping the end portions of the upper cross bar 6. By alternately pushing and pulling on the.upper cross bar and alternately pushing against the lower cross bar and relaxing his legs, an oscillatory or swinging movement is imparted to the swing, this combined arm and leg effort proving highly beneficial as a muscle builder and developer for the child's arms, legs and body, and the swing affording a pleasant, safe, and amusing pastime for the child.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a strong and sturdy swing construction, the upright and/or seat portion of which is suitably reinforced to withstand the strains, stresses and rough usage to which an amusement or exercising device of this character is generally subjected. Further, that I have provided a novel means for pivotally attaching the horizontally extending seat member to the I-shaped upright.

It isto be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that changes may be made in the shape, size and construction of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A swing comprising a metallic upright having reinforcing side flanges and a depression formed intermediate the ends thereof, said depression being defined by spaced, vertical side walls having aligned openings therein and a wall extending transversely between said side walls, and one of said reinforcing side flanges having an opening in alignment with the openings in said vertical side walls; cross arms carried at the upper and lower ends o said upright to provide hand and foot engaging portions; a horizontallyextending seat having its forward end located in said depression and spaced from the walls deflning said depression, said forward end having a transverse passage in alignment with the opening in the side flange and with the aligned openings in the side walls defining the depression; a pivot pin passing'axially through the opening in the side flange, through the aligned openings in the side walls defining the depression and through the passage in the forward end of the seat to pivotally connect the seat to the upright; and means for suspending the upright and seat from an over,-

' head support.

2. A swing comprising a metallicupright having reinforcing side flanges and a depression formed intermediate the ends thereof, said depression being defined by spaced, vertical side walls having aligned openings therein and a wall extending transversely between said side walls,

oneof said reinforcing side flanges having an opening in alignment with the openings in said vertical side walls; cross arms carried at the upper and lower ends of said upright to-provide hand and foot engaging portions; a horizontallyextending seat having its forward end located in said depression and spaced from the walls deflnv ing said depression, said forward end having a transverse passage in alignment with the opening in the side flange and with the aligned openings in the side walls defining the depression; a pivot pin passing axially through the opening in the side flange, through the aligned openings in the side walls defining the depression and through the passage in the forward end of the seat to pivotally connect the seat to the upright; means walls having aligned openings therein and a wall extending transversely between said side walls, and one of said side flanges having an integral, struck-out tongue portion adapted to be bent at an angle with respect to said side flange to form an opening through said side flange in alignment with the opening in said vertical side walls; cross arms carried at the upper and lower en of said upright to provide hand and foot eng ing portions; a horizontally-extending seat having its forward end located in said depression and spaced from the walls defining said depres-. sion, said forward end having a transverse passage in' alignment with the opening in the side flange and with the aligned openings in the side walls defining the depression; a pivot pin passing through the opening in the side flange, through the aligned openings in the side walls defining the depression and through the passage in the forward end of the seat to pivotally connect the seat to the upright, said integral, struckout tongue portion of the side flange being adapted to be bent to lie substantially parallel to said side flange to close the opening in said side flange after the pivot pin has been passed through said opening to thus retain the pivot pin against axial displacement; and means for suspending the upright and seat from an overhead support.

4. A swing comprising an upright member; a metallic seat having a depending marginal flange to reinforce the seat, said flange having alined openings at the forward end of said seat; a reinforcing bar secured to the underside of the seat with one end of said bar terminating adjacent the forward end of said seat and having an opening at the said endin alinement with the openings of the flange; a pivot pin carried by the upright member and passing through the alined openings in the flange and reinforcing bar, to pivotally connect'said seat to said upright; and means for suspending the upright and seat from an overhead supp rt.

5. A swing comprising an upright member; a metallic seat shaped to provide a seat portion and a forwardly extending tongue portion, said 1 through the alined openings in the flan'ge of the seat and in the flanges of the reinforcing member, to pivotally connect the said seat to said upright; and means for suspending the upright and seat from an overhead support.

MARSHALL E. DENNEY. 

